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Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 3:15 am
by Tonray's Ghost
So right now I'm at a place called Fortune Town IT Mall which just happens to have one of the best assortment of guitar shops in Bangkok. I was ogling a vintage white Revstar RSE20 and the guy in the shop invited me in despite my protests of having no cash to buy anything. Hooked me up with a tuner and plugged me into a Tone King Imperial..Ok that was an impressive amp. Perhaps I've been exclusively playing a strat style for too long but the Revstar (which has universally great reviews) just felt quite average, neck felt slim compared to my Strat and overall was not greatly impressed../.could it be that Strat playing has ruined me for other guitars ? I think playing one particular guitar exclusively for a couple of years has made it fit like a glove and anything else seems alien

I am going to have to reconsider my plan to get a Revstar, I know I plan to get a Tokai 335 style and I have played 335s in the past and love the feel and the woody tone so I think I'm safe there, perhaps I should look for a nice used Jaguar or Jazzmaster, seem to be more up my alley.
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Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 6:17 am
by Tiga
Do you think if it had a different neck profile you might have liked it more? Wondering if the new line of Revstars have a different feel. I've heard good things about them but haven't played one.

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 6:28 am
by Tonray's Ghost
Tiga wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 6:17 am Do you think if it had a different neck profile you might have liked it more? Wondering if the new line of Revstars have a different feel. I've heard good things about them but haven't played one.
I think it was simply not being adjusted to a different scale length and neck profile..I'm pretty sure I could enjoy it after a few days playing. But I was just gob smacked at how unimpressive it felt but I've been Strat binging 3 times a day testing my new THR10C so understandable.

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:09 am
by BatUtilityBelt
A Revstar has never called me either, but some people love them, and you're right... you like what you like, it's individual.
Tonray's Ghost wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 3:15 am I should look for a nice used Jaguar or Jazzmaster, seem to be more up my alley.
I know they look similar, but Jaguars and Jazzmasters are nothing alike from a playing perspective. The body shape is where their similarities end. The scale length difference between them does a lot to the player. They're very different tonally, and that probably makes them feel very different too. I love both, but a lot of people love one and hate the other.

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:23 am
by tonebender
I played one of those during the Sam Ash going out of business sale and I was quite impressed with it.

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:45 am
by Tonray's Ghost
tonebender wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:23 am I played one of those during the Sam Ash going out of business sale and I was quite impressed with it.
I think we may be on to something. I love Strats and was not comfortable with the Revstar, you don't get along with Strats and liked it..hmmm. I think I understand why some of us collect dozens of Strats over time. Maybe I should be looking for an HH strat instead of something else

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 11:12 am
by andrewsrea
Necks seem to be my point of contention with a new guitar, in the past few years. The guitars in my collection which get the most play time, have medium to fat necks, a radius of 12" or less (rounder), rolled fingerboards and consistent 'C', soft 'V', or 'U' shaped backs which are pretty even, up and down the neck. Oh, and jumbo frets and nut widths < 1 5/8".

I absolutely cannot do Ibanez-style Wizard necks (thin with very flat fingerboards). I love my Gibson Firebird, but the 60's thin 'D' shaped neck takes a few minutes of acclimation for me.

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 11:18 am
by Tonray's Ghost
andrewsrea wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 11:12 am Necks seem to be my point of contention with a new guitar, in the past few years. The guitars in my collection which get the most play time, have medium to fat necks, a radius of 12" or less (rounder), rolled fingerboards and consistent 'C', soft 'V', or 'U' shaped backs which are pretty even, up and down the neck. Oh, and jumbo frets and nut widths < 1 5/8".

I absolutely cannot do Ibanez-style Wizard necks (thin with very flat fingerboards). I love my Gibson Firebird, but the 60's thin 'D' shaped neck takes a few minutes of acclimation for me.
Yeah I looked it up the Revstar has a 13 + radius with my Strat clone being 9.5. that's the meat of it right there..just feels weird

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2024 11:15 pm
by tonebender
To me it is all about the neck. It is a static feature. You can change the nut, tuners, pickups, bridge, wiring, pots, etc but if you don't like the neck the it is a deal breaker.

Re: Yamaha Revstar Element

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2024 12:46 am
by Tiga
andrewsrea wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 11:12 am Necks seem to be my point of contention with a new guitar, in the past few years. The guitars in my collection which get the most play time, have medium to fat necks, a radius of 12" or less (rounder), rolled fingerboards and consistent 'C', soft 'V', or 'U' shaped backs which are pretty even, up and down the neck. Oh, and jumbo frets and nut widths < 1 5/8".

I absolutely cannot do Ibanez-style Wizard necks (thin with very flat fingerboards). I love my Gibson Firebird, but the 60's thin 'D' shaped neck takes a few minutes of acclimation for me.
You and I have similar taste in necks. Although the past couple import guitars / necks I bought have had flatter radiuses (~16") - at first I didn't like them but I've adjusted and now find them kind of comfortable.